Ditch your car for a bus ride to Marwell Zoo this spring as a new Bluestar service comes into force.

The bus operator has joined forces with the popular zoo to create a Z00 bus service.

The service, which will come into force during the Easter break, will run from Eastleigh railway station directly to the zoo.

Richard Tyldsley, Bluestar general manager, said: “Our new Z00 service provides a welcome travel option for families and visitors who either don’t have a car or who would prefer to leave their car at home.

“Just one bus has the potential to take up to 40 cars off the road, so we’re delighted to be working with Marwell Zoo, with a view to helping ease congestion and improving air quality here in Hampshire."

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After the Easter break, the service will run on weekends and school holidays until the end of summer.

Dr Duncan East, head of sustainability at Marwell Zoo, said: “Providing guests with the option to leave the car at home and creating access to the zoo for people without a car is really important to Marwell.

“Travel to the zoo is a significant part of our carbon emissions so anything we can do to help our guests reduce these emissions is good for us and great for the planet.”

Visit bluestarbus.co.uk for more information.